D4\/!d Posted August 28, 2006 Report Share Posted August 28, 2006 I'm not at all happy I switched on my PC this morning and phwat..!! It blew. Oh dear me All my PC power leads go into an extension board, and that plugs into the mains. I've started switching that off at night - now that electricity has gone up so much. It was when I switched on the extension at the wall socket, that the PC went pop, fizzle, phwat. I hadn't even pushed the boot button on the PC. In case it was the fuse in the power lead, I tried an alternative lead, from the ext board to the PC. The PC went bang again and blew the main fuse board under the stairs. Oh dear me. I guess it's the PC Power supply that's fried? Although, I guess there might also be some damage to the hard drives/monitor/anything else, as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackrat Posted August 28, 2006 Report Share Posted August 28, 2006 Just a query on your power supply, the PSU does not power up untill the power button on the PC is pressed.Have you checked out all your leads for a direct short?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted August 28, 2006 Report Share Posted August 28, 2006 I don't think that's quite, trackrat.There is a trickle current from the PSU to the M/B as soon as power is connected. This can easily be seen if you have a motherboard fitted with LEDs - which light up whether the power button had been pressed or not.I would think from your description that the large capacitor across the mains at the input to the switching unit has blown and is shorting any mains power applied to it.If you're lucky, the motherboard may be safe but don't count on it. Buy, beg or borrow a new PSU and test it out before going to the expense of a new M/B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackrat Posted August 28, 2006 Report Share Posted August 28, 2006 Pops, yes I know there is a small trickle of current at switch on but that would not be enough to take the main fuse.I had forgot about the capacitor in the switching unit.It still would do no harm to check out all the leads, just in case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D4\/!d Posted August 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2006 ... Buy, beg or borrow a new PSU and test it out before going to the expense of a new M/B.Thanks pops, I am going to buy a new PSU :) My old/burnt one was 250w. I am looking to get a new 400w one. My motherboard looks ok, I have searched for burn marks and there are none.I am now trying to decide on which new PSU to get. My M/B is an AMD Athlon Duron V266B 1.67Gb.What you you recommend please, and where should I go to get it ..?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted August 28, 2006 Report Share Posted August 28, 2006 I have had very good service and value from CCL. Try this link.http://www.cclonline.com/categories/PSU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted August 28, 2006 Report Share Posted August 28, 2006 I always use Antec, they are not the cheapest but I have never had a problem with any PSU I have brought of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted August 29, 2006 Report Share Posted August 29, 2006 I also tend to use Antec - mainly because they are quiet in addition to being reliable.250W is not enough power for a modern computer and this may have contributed to its demise.Plenty of places sell Antec PSUs. I think almost any of the online retailers stock them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D4\/!d Posted August 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2006 Thank you for your help :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohn Posted August 29, 2006 Report Share Posted August 29, 2006 If the rest of it has gone, try your contents insurance. Mine went kaput last week with a power surge. Direct Line paid out for a new custom built machine at £900 + VAT. and that was just the tower unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D4\/!d Posted August 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 Thanks everybody for your help. I got a 500 PSU, and - now this is the remarkable bit - I fitted it myself..!!Never done nuffin' like this before. I was quite nervous about doing it. But hey, I did, and it works. Phew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted August 30, 2006 Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 Excellent!! You'll be building your own computer next :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 Thanks everybody for your help. I got a 500 PSU, and - now this is the remarkable bit - I fitted it myself..!!Never done nuffin' like this before. I was quite nervous about doing it. But hey, I did, and it works. Phew Well done, the bug will start to bite know and you will soon build one as pops says. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 My power supply rule: Always get more power than you need.250W is about enough to run a Pentium III with on-board video, and 1 HDD.Most computers you buy now, will have a minimum of 400W-500W. I have even seen some power-hungry computers needing a 700W+ supply of power.Chances are, your hardware is OK. If you're unlucky, your Power Supply sent out some irregular voltages which can fry the inside components. I'd just go get a new power supply and see if anything is broken before getting upset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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